ME551/GEO551 Geology of Industrial Minerals

Spring 2005

stone, sustainable development, summary, the future of mining

Stone and aggregates—introduction

• Crushed and dimension

• aggregates

• sand and gravel

• most important indicator of construction activities and health of society

Crushed Stone—introduction

• 70% limestone and dolomite

• 16%, granite• 7%, traprock

• 7% other• sandstone and

quartzite• miscellaneous stone• marble• calcareous marl• slate• shell• volcanic cinder and

scoria

Dimension Stone—introduction• natural rock material

quarried as blocks or slabs that meet specifications as to size (width, length, and thickness) and shape

• Color• Durability

• grain texture • pattern• surface finish• strength,• ability to take a

polish

Dimension Stone—introduction• Granite• limestone• marble• sandstone• slate• alabaster (massive

gypsum)• soapstone (massive

talc)

• Igneous• metamorphic• sedimentary

Crushed stone and aggregates production

USGS Fact Sheet

Crushed stone and aggregates production

USGS Fact Sheet

Crushed stone and aggregates production

USGS Fact Sheet

Crushed stone production

USGS Fact Sheet

Crushed stone production

USGS Mineral Yearbooks

Crushed stone production

USGS Mineral Yearbooks

Crushed stone production

USGS Mineral Yearbooks

Dimension stone—uses

• rough block • construction (38%) • monumental stone

(26%)

• Dressed stone • flagging (26%)• curbing (21%)• ashlars and partially

squared pieces (14%)

Dimension stone—uses

Dimension stone—production

Dimension stone—production

Proctor, Vermont – Derrick hoisting a 15-ton block of Vermont Verde Antique Marblehttp://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~quarries/states/vt-proctor-photos.html

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/NAE%20aggregates%20Internet%20NRC%20with%20USGS%20sheet/load%20haul%20trucks.htm

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/NAE%20aggregates%20Internet%20NRC%20with%20USGS%20sheet/miningbench.htm

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/NAE%20aggregates%20Internet%20NRC%20with%20USGS%20sheet/drilling.htm

Sawing the Vermont Verde Antique Marblehttp://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~quarries/states/vt-proctor-photos.html

Houses made of adobe bricks are still popular in urban areas.

Sustainable Development

for Industrial Minerals

NIMBY (Not in my backyard!)NIMBY (Not in my backyard!)

BANANA (Build absolutely nothing, anywhere, near anybody!)BANANA (Build absolutely nothing, anywhere, near anybody!)

NOPE (Not on planet earth!)NOPE (Not on planet earth!)

If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined.If it can’t be grown, it has to be mined.

Earth First! We’ll mine the other planets later.Earth First! We’ll mine the other planets later.

YIMBY (Yes in my backyard.)YIMBY (Yes in my backyard.)

What is sustainable development?

What is sustainable development?

• Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.

• Sustainable development is not about sustaining the life of a mine. Instead it is about sustaining the flow of materials.

Continued supply of natural resources to manufacture and produce products that

society demands • Recycling• Re-use• Less use• Materials replacement• Alternative product design • Mining of new resources

Brundtland Definition

“…meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

Sustainability applied to any industry requires four general considerations (Richards, 2002):

Economic Environmental Social Governmental

Sustainable does not mean:

renewable

zero environmental impact

“green”

Note affects of renewable business on the environment:

agriculture, farming: much greater land area, regionally much greater negative environmental impact

golf courses: occupy surface area greater than state of Delaware - 5270 km2 (herbicides, fertilizers)

Capital Stocks of SD• Economic

• Financial

• Manufactured goods and infrastructure

• Social • Institutions

• Culture

• Environmental• Natural (renewable; nonrenewable)

• Air, water, biota, and earth resources

SD and Aggregate

• Urban mining of aggregate

• Majority knows mining via aggregate

• Aggregate is NOT toxic

• Aggregate is needed locally

• Sterilization of aggregate resources

• Cost vs benefits (transport, pollution)

• Triple bottom line (TBL) accounting

Taos, New Mexico

• Rural community

• Poor access from outside the region

• Very quality-of-life oriented (NIMBY)

• Bounded by restricted land

• Aggregate needs are recognized by local government (city and county)

• Needs not recognized by typical citizen

Recent Events at Taos• 2001-2002 Aggregate pit CLOSED!

• Amigos Bravos (an NGO )

• near Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

• Erroneously placed outside permitted area

• 2003-2004 Aggregate pit OPENED!• The Taos County Commission

• upheld expansion of existing permit

• near airport, sewage plant, other pits

• against nearby homeowners

How do we measure our success in sustainable

development in exploration?

INDICATORSINDICATORS

• The amount of land available for The amount of land available for exploration and developmentexploration and development

• The number of exploration projects The number of exploration projects

• Annual drilling footage or active drill rig Annual drilling footage or active drill rig countcount

• Annual mineral leasesAnnual mineral leases

• The amount of dollars spent on exploration The amount of dollars spent on exploration

INDICATORS—cont INDICATORS—cont • The number of new mines being developed The number of new mines being developed • Reserves/resources of specific commoditiesReserves/resources of specific commodities• Area reclaimed after explorationArea reclaimed after exploration• Number of abandoned mines reclaimed during Number of abandoned mines reclaimed during

explorationexploration• The number of mines with production of materials The number of mines with production of materials

as byproducts that might otherwise be considered as byproducts that might otherwise be considered waste (especially industrial minerals, such as clay waste (especially industrial minerals, such as clay deposits in coal fields or porphyry deposits).deposits in coal fields or porphyry deposits).

For “sustainability” to be realized, the global playing field must be level: this requires international law (to mandate that which is sustainable) and economic credit (for producing a mineral commodity in an acceptable, sustainable fashion).

Problem: this is not happening, as yet.

SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION

• What commodities have the most material mined?

• What commodities have the highest value?

Development of the minerals cycle and the need for minerals(MMSD)

Development of the minerals cycle and the need for minerals(MMSD)

Summary and discussion

• How has the mining industry changed with time?

USGS Circ 1221

Eyde, 2001

Summary and discussion

• What is the future of mining?

NMA The future begins with mining